A Food Lovers Guide to Egypt

Visiting a destination as exotic and exciting as Egypt is an opportunity to experience not only the wonderful landscape and history, but also to immerse yourself in the culture. One of the most satisfying ways to do this is to open your mind and appetite to the exotic cuisine the country has to offer. As long as you aren't afraid to be a little adventurous in your tastes, holidays to Egypt offer the opportunity to sample delicious cuisine in a whole new way.

In ancient times, due to the extreme dryness of the land and the lack of rain, the Egyptians relied almost totally on the Nile to keep their crops alive. Because of this, they were limited to growing certain crops - specifically wheat and barley. This made their diet mainly bread based, and beer also played a big part on the menu. Onions, other vegetables and dried fish supplemented their diet and these traditional items still form the basis of most of the dishes you will eat on your holidays. Egypt's cuisine is an eclectic fusion of Middle Eastern traditions blending the influences of Greece, Turkey, Lebanon, Palestine, and Syria. Often very simple dishes, they can be exotically spiced and use fruit and seasoning in unusual combinations.

Breakfast

Most locals will eat a hearty breakfast usually involving some kind of beans or bean cakes. Fava beans are mashed and mixed with onions, tomatoes and spices then deep fried and served with an egg and some pita bread. It is a delicious combination and usually accompanied by pickles or jams. You can ready yourself for a day's sightseeing on your holidays in Egypt with a refreshing Shay bil na'na' (mint tea), or a cup of Kahwa - the thick strong coffee which is the signature drink.

Lunch and Dinner

Lunch is sometimes the main meal for Egyptians; heavy on starch and usually followed by a siesta. Often dinner is lighter, serving up the leftovers from lunch, but you can choose when you eat your main meal as they are almost interchangeable.

If you just want to grab a snack there are plenty of roadside stalls serving seasoned, roasted chicken or Shawirma - lamb roasted on a vertical spit served in pita bread. If you want to eat like a local on your holidays to Egypt try the traditional Aysh - delicious leavened bread which is left to rise in the sun and then baked. It is usually served with beans, onions and tomatoes boiled and spiced; or a mashed and fried bean patty.

If you want to dine in, you'll never be short of a place to eat. Visiting the colourful cafes and restaurants with owners who beckon you to their establishments is often as much of an experience as the food itself. You can choose from an exciting array of dishes and titbits, and the Mezzo is a great way to sample a wonderful selection of flavours. Try stuffed vine leaves; roasted and mashed aubergines; Tarsi - a variety of vegetables soaked in brine; Tahina - oil paste with sesame seeds; Baba Glamour - a mixture of the Tahina and garlic and mashed eggplant; and Humous - mashed chickpeas and Tahina paste. You can wash it all down with the delicious local dark beer - Aswanli. Don't be surprised if you don't see any cutlery on the table - just use your bread as both fork and spoon.

If you're feeling particularly adventurous on your holidays, Egypt is the perfect place to try something you've never had before! One of the national delicacies is Hamaam - roasted pigeon stuffed with rice and spices. They are very small though, so you may want to order several!

Unless you choose some of the delicious fresh fruits, dessert is usually a very sweet affair. Most are usually fruit and pastry based and swimming in honey. Try the traditional layered Baklava; Basbousa - semolina topped with honey and nuts; or Fatir - pancakes stuffed with honey fruit and eggs. All very rich and all very delicious - a fitting end to a food-lover's holiday to Egypt!